Container lock



Snnentor Gttorneg Jan. 17, 1956 w. RAPHAEL CONTAINER LOCK Filed June 14,1952 o i (\J WALTER RAPHAEL CONTAINER Lock Walter Raphael, New York, N.Y., assigner to General Patent Production Company, New York, N. Y., afirm Application June 14, 1952, Serial No. 293,570

s claims. (cl. :1s- 52) This invention relates to a container lock andhas particular applicability to the prevention of tampering with bottlescontaining alcoholic spirits.

Those who keep alcoholic spirits on their premises know thatunauthorized persons generally tamper with the bottles by drinking aportion of the contents. In many cases, "in order to give the appearanceof the same level of liquid after tampering these persons add water tothe contents of the container thereby effectively mining same.

It is"an object of this invention to provide a container lock that willeffectively prevent tampering with the contents of the container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide` a container lockthat will not require separate keys for'its operation. C I

It is a further object of this inventionl to provide a con`r tainer lockthat may be easily removed orattached to the container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container lockthat will be simple and inexpensive.

Briey stated' the invention comprises a stopper adapted to be rigidlypositioned within the mouth of a container and capable of being removedtherefrom only when elongated in shape, a shaft member capable ofelongating the shape of the stopper when depressed, a projection uponsaid shaft member and a disk member supported upon and rotatably securedto the shaft member. The disk member is provided with a recess of sizeto accommodate the aforesaid projection when brought into registrationtherewith so that the disk member can be removed from the shaft member.It is pointed out that the shaft member cannot elongate the stoppermember when it is in position on the shaft member.

In the preferred modication of this invention the-shaft member is formedwith a tongue in the upper portion thereof which tongue is adapted tolit into a groove provided in a shield member. The shield membercove'rsboth the shaft member and the stopper member and is formed with aplurality of spaced flanges along the inner circumference thereof. Aplurality of disk members are supported by the anges.

In the preferred modilcation, in addition, a cut out portion is providedin the front of the shield member and the disk members bear indicia sothat the operator of the device can determine when the recesses in thedisk members are in registration with the horizontal projections of theshaft member.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are made a part of this specification.

Fig. l is a front view of the container locking device in position upona container.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. l taken alonglines 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2 taken alonglines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2 taken alonglines 5-k-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is' a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 5 taken alonglines 6-6 of Fig. 5.

There is provided locking device 11 which is disposed about container12. Locking device 11 is formed of stopper 13 and shaft member 14secured to stopper 13 and capable of elongating stopper 13 in shape.Stopper 13 is formed of resilient material so that it may be elongatedas will be subsequently set forth. Shaft member 14 is preferably securedto stopper 13 by pin 15 which is held by flanges 16. Shaft member 14extends through stopper 13 within recess 17. Stopper 13 is preferablyformed with aplurality of ridges 18. Ridges 18 of stopper 13 act asgripping members between stopper 13 and the mouth of container 12inwhich stopper 13 is positioned. Thus stopper 13 cannotbe pulled out ofcontainer 12 but can only be removed by elongating stopper 13 and thusreducing its diameter. y

Shaft member 14 is formed with tongue 19 at the upper end thereof and aplurality of spaced horizontal projections 20. Shield member 21, whichis preferably a llange member, is secured to shaft member 14 andoverlies the mouth of the container. Shield member 23 is provided withgroove 22 within which tongue 19 ts. By this construction shield member23 is not capable of rotation about shaft member 14.

registration with horizontal portions 20. Recesses 29 are k preferablyrectangular in shape.

Disks 26 are preferably formed with indicia 30 along the circumferencethereof so that the points of registration of recesses 29 and horizontalportions 20 may be easily determined.

With the above general description the operation of the device may beeasily explained.

When it is desired to lock the device shield member 23 and disk members26 are removed from stopper 13 and shaft member 14.

' Shaft member 14 and ange 21 are grasped by the operator shaft member14 pushed down to partially elongate stopper 13. Stopper 13 is thuspartially elongated and pushed into the mouth of container 12. Thepressure on shaft member 14 is then released so that lstopper 13 tendsto resume its normal shape and in so doing tends to widen. Stopper 13,however, cannot widen to its fullest extent since it normally is widerthan the mouth of container 12 in which it is positioned. Stopper 13thus remains in the mouth of container 12 in partially compressedrelationship. In this condition ridges 18 of stopper 13 bear against theinner surface of the mouth of container 12 and thus act as grippingmembers preventing pulling of stopper 13 from container 12. Thecontainer is thus firmly sealed. Disk members 26 are set to the properposition by means of indicia 30 so that recesses 29 are in registrationwith the horizontal portions 20 of shaft member 14.

Disks 26 are then rotated so as to conceal the correct alignment of theindicia.

In the closed position of the locking device, wherein stopper 13 ispositioned within the mouth of container 12, shield member 23 coversshaft member 14 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Thus shaft member 14 cannotbe pushed downwardly "to elongate 'stopper "13 and permit v"its "removalfrom the mouth of container 12 unless shield member 23 and itsassociateddisk members 26.are rstrrcmoved. Whenit'is desired ito `unlock'the containrfhow ever, .the :proper seguence frindiciaareset'by theoperator and shield member"23 and disk members '26.are removed fromstopper .13 and shaft' member ,14. vvThis exposes shaft `inern'ber .14which may then"be pushed `down and angemerriber-Zl when this'.memberisprovided Vto a'id in .the elongation of stopper"13, pt`ill edup so that stopper 13 inayibe elongated and thus ,removed V`fromcontainer 12. he fore,goirrgspecicv embodiments Lf. the invention as4shown Ain the 'foregoing specification 'are"'for1illustrativegpurposesand L'forpurposes .off example only. `VaiQus changes and modicationsmanobviously be made .within the spirit and scope of the invention s and.will :occur to those skilled '.inthisart.

. l. A containerlockng'devicecomprising. an elongatable stopper ofresilient material formed Withra circumferential ridge therein adaptedtobe rigidly positioned'inpartially compressed relationship withinthemouth of'a container and "capable `of rremoval therefrom only when'further elongated inshape; a'sha'ft memberlformed with a plurality ofspaced substantially"horizontal#projections secured to sa'idstopper' atapoint spacedifrom" the top portion thereof, agplurality of rotatablediskmembers each provided with an openingito accommodate saidprojectionswhen'brought into'registration therewith disposed about. saidshaftmember, and a ,removableshield membergprovided .with .1anopening'thereinheld by saiddisk members and .surround ing same.

I2. A container locking'device corrrprising anelongatablc stopper ofresilientymater'ial formed with a'plurality of circumferential ridges'therein adapted to'be rigidly positioned `in partially compressedrelationship within the mouth of a..container and capable of .removaltherefrom only ,when "further elongated inshape; a 'Shaft .member formedwith awplurality of spaced..substantiallyhorizontal projectionsextending through said stopper and secured to theibottonrportionthereof, anplurality ofrotat'able disk members each provided Withanopening to, accommodate saidwprojections when brought into `registration.therewith disposed about said sha'ft member, and afremovble shieldmember provided' with an opening therein 'held'hy `said dislcmembers andsurrounding same.

.3. A container locking device comprisingran 'elongatable stopperofres'ilient materilfformedwith aplurality ,0f circumferential ridgestherein adapted.tobe'rgdlLpositioned in partially compressedrelationship Within the vmouth ofacontainer and capable of removaltherefrom only whenfurther elongated inshapc; :aosha'fhmetber formedwith .alplurality of' spaced sbstantiallyfhorizontal projectionsextending .through saidstopperad-secured to the bottom portion .theref,aiange .membensecuredgto said t sh aft member adapted to Vovelie themouth .of .the container, iajplurality of rotatable .fdiskmemhers'hearing indicia thereon and each provided with an opening to"accommodate'said projections when-brought'into registration therewithdisposed about said shaft member, and a removable shield member providedwith an opening therein held by said disk members and surrounding same.

4. A container locking device comprising an elongatable stopper ofresilient materialformed with a plurality of spaced circumferentialridges therein, adapted to be rigidly positioned in partiallycompressedrelationship Within the mouthbfe container and .capable ofremovaltherefrom only .ir/henffurtherfelongated .inl-Shape; fa .haft memberformed with a plurality of spaced horizontal 4projections extendingthrough saidftstoppery andssecuredrtofthe-bottom portion thereof,rafange member secured to said shaft member adapted to overliey themouth of container, a plurality of rotatable disk members bearingindicia thereon at the side portions thereof and each provided with anopening to..aocommodate .said ,projections when .broughtintonegistration therewith.,disposed abontfsaidehaft-member, and aremovable shieldmemberrformed vwith aplurlty Qfrpaederdges Qnthe.interior.thereofrandatcut- Qutnortionin .the.Ifrontportionrthereot.said ridges .within said '.shield.meruber Vbeing. adapted tto* support,said 'disk lmer'nbers `and @said .-shieldrmember. surroundingrsaidshaft member.

5. A container;lockingdevicecomprisinganelongatable stopper fresilientmaterial formed witharphirality of circumferential ridgcstherein,.adaptedto tbe rigidlypositioned 'in partially compressed relationship.within tthe mouth .of a container and .capableefremoval therefrom onlywhenifurther elongated. in shape; a shaft member 'formed with a tonguemember at the top portionthereof i and with .a ,plurality efgspacedAhorizontal projections, ex-

tending through said .stopper land secured .to ,the .bottom portionthereof, aliange member secured to said-shaft member, adapted .t0.overlie the mouth of ethe,container, a pluralityorofmotatabledishmembers :bearing indicia. thereonrat :thek Side `portions,thereof..,and .each provided with` an opening ,to 4accomrnodatesaidprojections .when brought intoregistration therewith ,disposed.aboutsaidshaft member, and ,a removable shie1dmember' 4formed .with i aEplurality ofespecedridgespnthe interior.surfacethereof-and with a. cutout ,portion in :the front portion thereof surrounding. said.shafLrnember ,and said. disk members, said ridges Withinv saidrshi'eld,member :surrounding vsaid .disk members at 'thellateralpcrtionsthereof- References'Cited in the Ile. of this... patent tUNIlEDiSDA1213SA 487,748 Jordan lEec. `l^3, i11892 ".'-504,`034 "iHay-..v/Aug. I' 29,' i893 887,771 Ghurchll 1 May 19,v i908 @RUSS-8.96iGarter l une "24, -19 lf3 2515.538 Moeller v -Apr.6, 19V-43EQREIGNLBATENTS :269,138 ."1Switzerland -:Qet. :2, :1.950

